Jennifer VanHoutan Named A GM 'Hero'

Jennifer VanHoutan of Downers Grove garnered more than 2,300 votes on DrivingtheMidwest.com to win the General Motors' Our Town, Our Heroes program. Both VanHoutan and her nominator, Annie Farnaus, will receive the week-long loan of a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle, plus a full tank of gas.

VanHoutan is the mother of three children, two of whom have Batten Disease, a rare genetic disorder with no known cure. She and husband Tracy have founded the Noah's Hope Fund  to raise awareness and funds to combat the disease. 

In her nomination, Farnaus describes VanHoutan's dedication to giving her children Noah and Laine, who have the disease, as normal a life as possible while supporting her other daughter, Emily.

"By pouring herself into www.NoahsHope.com, Jennifer promises to do whatever it takes so that no other family has to experience this," said Farnaus.  "Jennifer inspires her family, friends and community, and I look up to her in more ways than she will ever know."

Submissions for the next round of the Our Town, Our Heroes program are currently being accepted. General Motors launched the recognition program to support and reward local heroes who inspire and empower others in their community. Every two weeks, the program will narrow down the nominations, and enable the public to choose the winner by voting for the featured finalists.  

To read the winning nomination, and the stories of the other finalists, visit DrivingtheMidwest.com.